Difference between sexes of Ibis rubra; change in plumage.

Reports on Prof. Cornalia’s observations on the proportion of sexes in bees, and in healthy and sick silk moths, in nature and under domestication.

He never intended "A Lift for Darwin" as a serious title but as a way of arranging it. Lyell’s suggestion seems best to him: "Facts and Arguments For Darwin".

Notes the differences in seed production between cross- and self-fertilized flowers of Victoria regia.

Warns ARW of dubious character of list of European alpine genera and species in volcanoes of Hawaii. Problems of geographical distribution in oceanic islands.

Corrects errors of detail in Variation.

Thanks CD for copy of Variation.

CD’s work on pigeons demonstrates the close relationship between modifications in soft tissues and the hard parts, which are the only ones we possess in the fossil state.

Observations on expression in her baby daughter.

BDW’s letter [6051?] and his notes are a "mine of wealth". The negative evidence is of much value. Sexual selection is a perplexing subject – finds he "must make the best of a rather bad job".

Sends copy [of Variation].

Asks JM to send Variation to G. Boccardo in Italy.

Sends title (suggested by Lyell) for translation of Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin (which Dallas is translating). CD does not wish to go to great expense in advertising it.

Thanks for Casimir de Candolle’s paper ["Théorie de l’angle unique en phyllotaxie", Arch. Sci. Phys. & Nat. 23 (1865): 199–212].

Extract from Émile Blanchard’s Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insectes [1868], on attraction of males by female Lepidoptera, and possible explanation.

Has tried using dealers’ price-lists as a guide to sex ratios in Lepidoptera; finds numerous cases in which the sexes bring different prices and in virtually all of them the males are cheaper. This seems to confirm the impression of the field collectors.

Wishes RT good luck with natural history in S. Africa.

Solicits CD’s support for the newly set up Royal Horticultural Society’s Scientific Committee.

Very pleased that he was put into CD’s book [Variation 1: 352].

Sends "hybridising pincers" of his own making.

Has some "vegetable caterpillars" from New Zealand and will be pleased to show them to CD if he is interested.

About the advertising and title of a book [the translation of Fritz Müller’s Für Darwin, see 6114].

CD has questions related to colour differences in the sexes of butterflies, especially in relation to HWB’s paper ["On variation in sexes of Argynnis diana", Proc. Entomol. Soc. Philadelphia 4 (1865): 204–7].

Mentions that his MS on Lepidoptera [for Descent] is longer than he intended and the information is four-fifths owed to HWB.

Admires ARW’s "Theory of birds’ nests" [J. Travel & Nat. Hist. 1 (1868): 73].

Discusses their respective views on birds’ nests, sexual selection, and protection.

Asks why, if brilliant colours of female butterflies are result of protective mimicry, do not males become equally brilliant? CD believes variation in females alone accounts for it, rather than protection.

Gives details of the subjects on whom Langstaff made his observations on crying. Langstaff has not seen the platysma contract under chloroform.

Submits lists of insects [missing] for correspondent to check whether brightly coloured. Wants to determine whether there is any relation between bright colouring, whether in both sexes or one alone, and an unequal number of males and females.